James canan



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES OANAN, OF OWEN SOUND, CANADA.

DREDGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,974, dated October 3, 1893.

Application filed February 3, 1893. Serial No. 460|854- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES GANAN, of the town of Owen Sound, in the county of Grey, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Dredges, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to dispense with the chains now used for drawing the dipper into a vertical position and to arrange the dipper so that it will fall by its own gravity into the vertical position necessary for it" to assume before resuming its work, and it consists, essentially of a light cable connected at one end to the arm of the dipper and at its other end to a drum journaled near the mast of the crane and provided with means by which the cable is automatically kept taut and may be controlled as desired, substantially as hereinafter more particularly explained and then definitely claimed.

Figure 1 is a side view of a dredge crane with dipper connected. Figs. 2 and 3 are detailed views of the mechanism by which the cable is controlled.

In the drawings, A, is the dredge dipper connected to its arm B, which is attached to the dredge crane O, in the usual manner.

D, is a cable connected at one end to the arm B, and at its other end to the drum E, loosely journaled on the shaft F, which is suitably carried by the crane 0, near its mast G.

I, is a friction drum loose on the shaft F, but fixed to the drum E, and provided with a friction band J, the ends of which are attached to the double arm K, fixed to the journal spindle L.

H, is a ribbon or clock spring attached at one end to the friction drum I, and at its other end to the shaft F, the power of the spring being arranged to revolve the drum I, so as to wind the cable D, and take up any slack which might otherwise be in the said cable. A ratchet pawl M, is fixed to the spindle L, and is designed to engage with the ratchet wheel N, fixed to the drum E.

O, is a lever fixed to the spindle L. A

rod P, connects the lever O, to the spring treadle Q.

When the dredge dipper A, has been raised the required height and the lifting mechanism slackened, the weight of the dipper will cause it to fall so as to bring its arm B, into its working position back of the vertical the dipper swinging from the drum E.

In order to lower the dipper, I press on the treadle Q, so as to push on the lever O, and draw the ratchet pawl M, clear of the ratchet wheel N, leaving the shaft F, free to revolve. In order to prevent it revolving too quickly, pressure on the treadle Q, rocks the spindle L, causing the friction band J, to tighten around the drum E, by the rocking movement of the double arm K.

Any slack that may occur at any time is taken up by the action of the spring H. It will of course be understood that a Weight might be arranged to take the place of the said spring.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination with a dredge dipper, of a cable connected at one end to the arm of the dipper, and at its other end to a drum actuated by a spring, and means for holding said drum as it winds the cable, substantially as described.

2. In a dredge, a cable connected at one end to the arm of the dipper and at its other end to a spring actuated drum in connection with a pivoted pawl engaging with a ratchet wheel arranged to lock the drum, and of a friction brake arranged to control the said drum, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Toronto, January 7, 1893.

JAMES GANAN. 

